High voltage watch power supply

ABSTRACT

A power supply for a watch including voltage multiplying means or transforming means to increase the voltage of a power cell to a higher voltage capable of operating electrical and electronic devices used in watches requiring voltage higher than the conventional 1.5 volts. These include highly efficient quartz oscillators and dividing units, MOS integrated circuits, solid state indicating systems, crystals, piezoelectrical and electrostatic motors and piezoelectric alarm systems, and associated systems. A DC-AC converter or chopper is connected respectively to a voltage multiplier or transformer and the high voltage output therefrom is suitable for driving various types AC or DC systems used in watches. The use of a plurality of batteries or other undesirable structures is thereby avoided.

HIGH VOLTAGE WATCH POWER June 13, 1972 Primary Examiner-Richard B.Wilkinson SUPPLY Assistant Eagminer-Edith C. Simmons Attorn 'chard A.Joe [72] Inventor: Gunther Rudalph Diet-shock, Waterbury, ey

Conn- 57 ABSTRACT Assignee: Time-X Corporation! Waterbury, Conn- A powersupply for a watch including voltage multiplying means or transformingmeans to increase the volta e of a 22 Filed. Nov. 5, 1970 8 power cellto a higher voltage capable of operating electrical PP Nod ,215 andelectronic devices used in watches requiring voltage higher than theconventional 1.5 volts These include highly efficient uartz oscillatorsand dividing units, MOS integrated 52 US. Cl. ..ss 23 BA q [51 1 Int Cl604C 3/00 circuits, solid state indicating systems, crystals,piezoelectrical [58] Fie'ld 24 26 and electrostatic motors andpiezoelectric alarm systems. and associated systems. A DC-AC converteror chopper is connected respectively to a voltage multiplier ortransformer and [56] References cued the high voltage output therefromis suitable for driving vari- UNITED STATES PATENTS ous types AC or DCsystems used in watches. The use of a plu- 3 080 501 3/1963 Ch b 58/23 Rrality of batteries or other undesirable structures is thereby ar onnreravoided 3,509,714 5/1970 Walton ..58/23 R X 8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures,46 26 l' "l I we t 4?l2tfi F co VERTER L umecqu POWER 0c -.4c v01. TAGEIND/0471"; suPPLr rw/VERTER MUL "PL/ER 0570 12;

HIGH VOLTAGE WATCH POWER SUPPLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The presentinvention relates to horology and more particularly to a high voltagepower supply for a watch.

In conventional electric or electronic watches, the power supplycomprises an energy cell having an output voltage in the order of 1.5volts. Higher power levels require either additional cells or largercell arrangements. Since space is a prime consideration in watchdesigns, it is highly undesirable to select either of the aforementionedalt ematives and yet present and future solid state watches will requirehigher voltages. With voltages of about volts, MOS techniques can beused for all circuits and solid state indicating systems are feasible.Furthermore, piezoelectric motors and alarm systems having voltageinputs of 5-30 volts may be employed.

The prior art is represented by US. Pat. No. 3,194,003 disclosing asolid state electronic timepiece and US. Pats. Nos. 3,048,766 and3,292,073 directed to converter arrangements which step up DC voltagefrom a lower to a higher level. U.S. Pats Nos. 3,443,194 and 3,453,520disclose transformer circuits which are of interest in this area. Ofcourse, the aforementioned patents are not intended to be an exclusivelisting of the prior art since other patents may also be pertinent tothis area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a power supplyfor an electric or electronic watch comprising an oscillator providing apre-determined frequency which is used to operate a DC-AC converter orchopper. The AC voltage is transformed or multiplied to a high voltagelevel. The high voltage level achieved, still using the conventional l.5volts energy cell, permits the use of MOS circuitry, liquid crystaldisplays, light emitting diode displays and various solid stateindicating systems. Also piezoelectric components may be used for motorsand alarms which require a voltage in the order of 5 to 30 volts. Moreaccurate oscillators can be built by eliminating the voltage limitationwhich presented a problem heretofore.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a new andimproved high voltage watch.

Another object of this invention is to provide a unique high voltagepower supply for an mechanical electrical or electronic watch.

Other objects and advantages of the present system will be more clearlyseen when viewed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of the inventron;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 3 is a circuit drawing of the first embodiment of the inventiondisclosed in FIG. 1 showing in detail portions thereof;

F IG. 4 is a circuit drawing illustrating portions of the secondembodiment of the invention disclosed in FIG. 2 in greater detail;

FIG. 5 shows the polarized DC signals which are fed to the input of thevoltage multiplier of FIG. 1; and,

FIG. 6 shows the DC pulse output wave forms from the chopper of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As shown in FIG. 1, a high voltagepower supply for a watch comprises a power supply 10 such as aconventional energy cell which furnishes 1.5 volts to the oscillator 11.The oscillator 11, which may be a balance wheel and switch arrangementor an electronic oscillatory circuit supplies a certain frequency to theDC-AC converter 12. The AC output (polarized DC output) of the converter12 is fed to the voltage multiplier 14 which may be of the typedisclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,295,047 to Z. Tanzy-Homoch, to provide ahigh voltage.

The voltage is multiplied in each stage of the multiplier 14 and changedfrom an AC voltage to a higher DC voltage. The

output is a function of the number of multiplier stages used and the 1.5volt input could be increased to 3 volts, to 6 volts, or to highervalues. The output voltage is raised to a level sufficient to operate anindicating system or motor 16 which requires a higher DC voltage thanthat furnished by the 1.5 volt energy cell. If the motor indicator 26 isused which requires an AC input a DC-AC converter 28 may be connectedbetween multiplier 14 and motor 26.

In FIG. 2, the chopper l3 converts DC voltage from power supply 8 andoscillator 9 into DC pulses, see FIG. 6. The pulses are transformed intoa high AC voltage in the transformer 17 and, if necessary, rectified byrectifier 15 to a predetermined DC voltage. This voltage is fed to theindicating system or motor 18 which may be a MOS circuit, a solid statedisplay or a piezoelectric motor. On the other hand, the output oftransformer 17 may be fed directly to a motor or indicating system 27compatible with the AC output.

FIG. 3 discloses the power supply 10, oscillator 11, converter 12 andvoltage multiplier 14 of FIG. 1 in greater detail. The oscillator with aDC-AC converter 12 is connected to a cascade doubler stage of a voltagemultiplier 14. The transistors 30 and 31 function as a multivibrator incombination with capacitors 32 and 33 and timing resistors 34 and 36. Inoperation, with 31 initially saturated, 30 is cut off. After apredetermined period of time :2, transistor 30 saturates as a functionof the timing circuit, capacitor 33 and resistor 36, while transistor 31is driven to cut off. After a period of time t1, transistor 31 saturatesas a function of the timing circuit including capacitor 32 and resistor34, transistor 30 becomes cut off. The multivibrator continues tofunction at a frequency determined by the timing circuits resistor34-capacitor 32 and resistor 36capacitor 33.

When transistor 31 saturates, the base 37 of transistor 38 becomesnegative and transistor 38 saturates. The base 39 of transistor 41becomes positive and transistor 41 also becomes saturated. At the sametime, the base 42 of transistor 30 becomes negative and cuts off whichin turn cuts off transistors 43 and 44. Current flows from the positiveterminal of the battery 10 through transistor 38 and the load throughtransistor 41 back to the batterys negative terminal.

After the time t2, transistor 30 saturates as well as transistor 43 and44 and transistor 31, 38, and 41 are cut off. Current flows in theopposite direction from the positive battery terminal through transistor44 and load and through transistor 43, back to the negative batteryterminal. This AC output, see FIG. 5, is fed to the voltage multiplier14 which multiplies the voltage in each stage, for example, 3 volts, 6volts, etc. and converts the AC voltage to a higher DC voltage. The maincircuit elements, in general, are standard units so further discussionis not necessary.

FIG. 4 discloses in greater detail a portion of the second embodiment ofthe invention involving a chopper 13 connected to a transformer 17 andpossibly a rectifier 15. The chopper l3 converts DC voltage into DCpulses, as shown in FIG. 6, which are then transformed to a high ACvoltage in the transformer l7 and rectified to the predetermined DCvoltage if desired as shown in dotted line.

Since the circuit elements of FIG. 4 are conventional, only a briefdescription of their operation will be given. Accordingly, whentransistor 50 is saturated, current flows through a primary winding 52of the transformer 17. The current builds up a magnetic field in theferrite core of the transformer 17 which induces a negative voltage inthe transformer coupled feed back winding 53 and eventually shuts offthe transistor 50. The current through winding 52 and the magnetic fieldcease. The cycle then repeats with the base 54 of transistor 50 becomingpositive and the transistor 50 being driven to saturation. The currentpulses in winding 52 are transformed to a high voltage in the secondarywinding 56. While FIG. 4 shows one type of chopper circuit, many othertypes of choppers and oscillators can be used for this invention.

It is also to be noted that depending upon the circuit requirement, itmay be possible to combine various portions of the circuits shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. For example, the output 3. A high voltage power supplyfor a watch in accordance of the converter 12 in FIG. 1 could be fed tothe transformer with claim 2 further including: 17 of FIG. 2, theremainder of the circuit staying the same. On a DCAC converter connectedto the voltage multiplier to the other hand, the output of the chopper,transformer 13, 17 provide an AC output to the driven means, and,wherein of FIG. 2 could be fed to the voltage multiplier 14 of FIG. 1 5the driven means comprises an AC motor. with the rest of the circuitremaining the same. 4. A high voltage power supply for a watch inaccordance The invention as thus described above opens new vistas inwith claim 1 wherein: watch design permitting the use of newtechnologies within the converting means comprises a chopper forchanging the the stringent space limitations of a watch. These newoscillator output into DC pulses, technologies and components generallyrequire high voltages the o ag increasing means comprises a ansfofmer,which have not been available heretofore. The power supply the drivenmeans comprises a watch motor. of the present invention provides avoltage capable of operat- A high voltage power supply for a watch inaccordance ing highly efficient quartz oscillators circuits, solid stateinwith Ciaim4whereifli dicating systems, liquid crystals, piezoelectricand electro- 11 Teciifief is connected to the "anformer Output toProvide static motors and piezoelectric alarm systems, for mechanical,15 a DC Output therefrom, electrical and electronical watches. t e d enmeans comprises a DC motor.

lclaim: 6. A high voltage power supply for a watch in accordance l. Ahigh voltage power supply for a watch comprising: with claim 2 wherein?a l voltage power Supply, the voltage multiplier comprises a pluralityof cascaded an oscillator connected to the low voltage power supply anddoubler Stages, and

d i h b the oscillator includes a multivibrator. means for convertingthe oscillator output into a series of A high Voltage Power Supply for aWatch in accordance pulses with claim 1 wherein:

the converting means comprises a DCAC converter for changing theoscillator input to AC pulses, said means being connected to the powersupply, the voltage increasing means comprises a voltage multiplier, thedriven means comprises a display. 8. A high voltage power supply for awatch in accordance with claim 1 wherein:

the converting means comprises a chopper for changing the oscillatoroutput in DC pulses, the voltage increasing means comprises atransformer, and, the driven means comprises a display. =l

means for increasing the voltage of the output from the converting meansto provide a high voltage output, and 25 means driven by the highvoltage output from the voltage increasing means to indicate time.

2. A high voltage power supply for a watch in accordance with claim 1wherein:

the converting means comprises a DCAC converter for changing theoscillator input to AC pulses, said means being connected to the powersupply,

the voltage increasing means comprises a voltage multiplier,

and

the driven means comprises a watch motor.

1. A high voltage power supply for a watch comprising: a low voltagepower supply, an oscillator connected to the low voltage power supplyand driven thereby, means for converting the oscillator output into aseries of pulses, means for increasing the voltage of the output fromthe converting means to provide a high voltage output, and means drivenby the high voltage output from the voltage increasing means to indicatetime.
 2. A high voltage power supply for a watch in accordance withclaim 1 wherein: the converting means comprises a DC-AC converter forchanging the oscillator input to AC pulses, said means being connectedto the power supply, the voltage increasing means comprises a voltagemultiplier, and the driven means comprises a watch motor.
 3. A highvoltage power supply for a watch in accordance with claim 2 furtherincluding: a DC-AC converter connected to the voltage multiplier toprovide an AC output to the driven means, and, wherein the driven meanscomprises an AC motor.
 4. A high voltage power supply for a watch inaccordance with claim 1 wherein: the converting means comprises achopper for changing the oscillator output into DC pulses, the voltageincreasing means comprises a transformer, and, the driven meanscomprises a watch motor.
 5. A high voltage power supply for a watch inaccordance with claim 4 wherein: a rectifier is connecteD to thetranformer output to provide a DC output therefrom, and, the drivenmeans comprises a DC motor.
 6. A high voltage power supply for a watchin accordance with claim 2 wherein: the voltage multiplier comprises aplurality of cascaded doubler stages, and the oscillator includes amultivibrator.
 7. A high voltage power supply for a watch in accordancewith claim 1 wherein: the converting means comprises a DC-AC converterfor changing the oscillator input to AC pulses, said means beingconnected to the power supply, the voltage increasing means comprises avoltage multiplier, the driven means comprises a display.
 8. A highvoltage power supply for a watch in accordance with claim 1 wherein: theconverting means comprises a chopper for changing the oscillator outputin DC pulses, the voltage increasing means comprises a transformer, and,the driven means comprises a display.